Program Summary

Travel in local style while sharing your adventures in South America with a small group of like-minded peers aged 18 to 25. With Youth International, you will learn about the local culture by living it yourself, through volunteer work and home stays with families in a variety of communities.

The South America program includes an intensive Spanish course at the beginning of the trip, preparing you for the many opportunities you will have to use Spanish in real life situations!

You will also explore a wide range of spectacular natural environments, including the Salt Plains of Bolivia, the Andes Mountains, the Ecuadorian Rainforest, and the Galapagos Islands.

College credit is available through YI's partnership with Colorado Western State University.

Program Highlights

1. Learn to speak Spanish while living with local families.

2. Search for wildlife while sailing through the Galapagos Islands.

3. Help build an orphanage in Bolivia.

4. Do Conservation work in the Ecuadorian rain forest and appreciate its biodiversity.

10/ 10

Social Life

10

Health and Safety

10

Community Impact

10

Living Situation

10

Program Administration

10

Volunteer Experience

10

Life Changing

Submitted by
Dash MacLean -
Santiago | November 05, 2014

I participated in Youth International's South America Volunteer trip directly after I graduated from high school. My fellow participants were mostly around my age, 18-24, and were from parts of the USA, Canada, and Europe. It is because of Youth International that I fell in love with the world, learned to work with every type of person, and developed a compassion for disadvantaged communities. Although I have studied, worked, and volunteered with many other programs, Youth International was the most profound. I am still best friends with some of the participants and I have visited them and other travelers I met during the program all over the world. I will always recommend people to participate with Youth International. If you have never stepped foot out of your country or are an experienced traveller, it makes no difference. You will love your months with Youth Internationals and leave wishing you could stay.

Overall Rating

10/ 10

Volunteer Experience

N/A

Living Situation

N/A

Community Impact

N/A

Program Administration

N/A

Health and Safety

N/A

Social Life

N/A

A great opportunity for experiential learning and travel

Submitted by
Alex Retzleff -
| September 16, 2011

Youth International semesters focus on learning by doing. You will live with local families, help out in communities by doing volunteer work, improve your Spanish, and also have time for seeing major sites like Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. You travel using local transportation, with a backpack on your back, so it can be pretty rugged at times. You will be traveling in a small group of like-minded people your age (18 to 25), with 2 experienced leaders. Chances are, you will make lifelong friends, and you will never see the world the same way again!

Program Fees Include:

This program fee covers all program expenses during the semester abroad, including: all meals and lodging, all overland travel, all scheduled program activities (including the cost of all outdoor adventure activities and site-seeing etc…), team leaders and in-country staff, all costs for orientation in the USA, educational materials, and other miscellaneous expenses related to the program.

In addition to the program fee, participants must pay for their flights. The only other costs that the program fee does not cover are personal expenses and individual free time activities. Personal expenses include health insurance, entry visas, and transportation to orientation in Colorado at the beginning of the program.

Credit Available

yes

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Arts

Building & Construction Projects

Childcare & Children

Community Centers

Community Development

Conservation

Economic Development

Education

English Teaching

Environment

Human Rights

Nutrition

Organic Farming

Orphans

Parks

Public Health

Recreation

Reforestation

Refugee Relief

Senior Citizens

Street Children

Teaching

Trail Building

Tree Planting

Water Projects

Women

Youth

Youth Development

Typical Volunteer

Q: What types of people join Youth International teams?
A: This is a very common question and a difficult to answer, as there is really no "typical" Youth International participant. Each is unique! Our participants bring with them a wonderful diversity of backgrounds and interests. Team members bond through their common interests and enthusiasm toward the activities and ideals which have drawn them all toward the Youth International program. All, in some way or another, are eager to step outside the path they are on and to challenge themselves. Many are taking a "gap year" after high school, or some time off in the middle of college. Some have graduated college recently, and want to experience some of the world before starting a career or going on to graduate school. The majority of our participants come from the United States, from all corners of the country. We also have many participants join from across Canada. Youth International also has some members that have joined us from other countries around the world, including the UK.